The potential of 20-hydroxyecdysone to accelerate termite baiting programs.

Abstract

While chitin synthesis inhibitor baits are environmentally friendly and sustainable measures to control subterranean termites compared to conventional termiticides, the lengthy time required to eliminate a termite colony is perceived as a drawback for both homeowners and pest control industry. Recent efforts have focused on overcoming such problem by accelerating the baiting process. To accelerate termite colony elimination, 20-hydroxyecdysone was proposed as a potential active ingredient due to its similar mode of action observed in chitin synthesis inhibitors. Termites ingesting 20-hydroxyecdysone displayed hyperecdysonism, and mortality occurred much faster than with chitin synthesis inhibitor-ingesting termites. However, trial with 20-hydroxyecdysone alone and 20-hydroxyecdysone mixed with noviflumuron baits with intact colonies of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki failed to accelerate the colony elimination time due to the feeding cessation. To bypass this issue, lower concentrations of 20-hydroxyecdysone may be necessary and sequential feeding of chitin synthesis inhibitors and 20-hydroxyecdysone have been proposed. In this review, a few more potential approaches were summarized which can be used to accelerate termite baiting program.